According to the latest tech news, FedEx and Walgreens are partnering up to make online returns more convenient. This is a part of their move that focuses on developing a trend where brick-and-mortar retailers cater to the demands of e-commerce shoppers to improve foot traffic at their stores. Keep reading to learn more about this partnership.
How will this affect customers?
Following the new deal, consumers will be prepared to drop off their online returns at hundreds of Walgreens stores nationwide. They will also be capable of printing their return shipping label in the store if it is required.
How does this process work?
The partnership includes the use of the FedEx Returns Technology platform, which enables online vendors and retailers to give customers a return code through email. The customer can later take that code to the participating Walgreens store to arrange their label getting printed for them.
FedEx states it is giving the printing machine, associated technology and training elements to the Walgreens stores. However, current Walgreens store staff will be the ones who do the printing and not a FedEx employee.
How is this deal any different?
The current partnership is an extension of an existing relationship between both the companies. In 2017, Walgreens declared a long-term partnership with FedEx to offer drop-off and pickup services at its U.S. stores. However, it did not help with label printing the packages which are required to be fit to ship.
Why is this new partnership a life-saver?
The new partnership marks what continues to be one of the biggest challenges connected with shopping online. Many consumers don’t have access to a functioning printer or are out of ink or paper, and this makes printing a return label trouble. And researches have revealed that consumers prefer to take their online returns to a store, instead of shipping them back by themselves.
According to a study indicated by eMarketer, 75% of U.S. online users said they would prefer that way of action. Brick-and-mortar retailers have been keen on capitalizing this trend to fit their own needs in terms of increasing foot traffic at a time when most of their consumers are shopping from home.
The current contribution will start rolling out at the beginning of November, ahead of the peak holiday shopping season. Stay tuned with iTMunch for more such updates from the retail industry!
SEE ALSO: Target is all set to power Toys “R” Us’s online sales
Stay tuned with iTMunch for more such news and industry updates!
